Gate.



W. T. CURTIS.

, GATE. APYLIOATION rmm ma. 2. 1903.

no uonnn.

PATENTED NOV. 10, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 743,462. PATENTBD NOV. 10, 1903. W. T. CURTIS. GATE.

APPLICATION IILED MAB. 2. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m: norms PETERS co, WOTOLITHOWASHMGI'O-N. n1:v

i atented November 10, 19 01.

P TENT OFFICE.

WVALTER T. CURTIS, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,462, dated November 10, 1903. Application filed March 2, 1903. Serial No. 145,698. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTERT. JURTIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmette, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to gates generally, but more particularly to a form of gate especially adapted for preventing small children from leaving a room or passing through a doorway or any other passage and it has for its primary object to provide an improved and simple form of gate for the described purpose which shall be so constructed as to be capable of ready and convenient attachment to the door frame or jamb or otherwise supported in the doorway or between gateposts in such a manner that it may be readily opened at the will of an adult or person of discretion while securely locked against the exit of small children.

My invention also relates to the means employed at either the hinge side or the latch side of the gate or at both sides for connecting the gate to one or both poststhat is to say, it has reference to the hingeas well as to the latch; and my invention has for its primary object to provide an improved and simple means whereby the desired connection maybe readily and properly effected between the gate and its post or other support in such a manner that the gate shall be perfectly adapted as a household article, to be conveniently shifted from place to place and set up in doorways or other like passages of various widths and character without interfering with the regular operation of the door for preventing small children from roaming about the house or leaving certain confines.

A further object of my invention is to make the gate adjustable, so that it may be attached and securely supported between'the gate-posts or door-jambs or in any other passages of various widths.

A still further object of my invention is to provide improved and simple means for adj ustably connecting a gate of any character to its post or other support.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by .which the 'said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to'the accompanyingdrawin'gs, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved gate applied to the easing or door-jamb of an ordinary doorway. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the Walls and door-casing shown in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the catch employed in connection with the hinge or with the latch, as hereinafter described." Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail plan view of the latch-clamp hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of a modified form of hinge-clamp hereinafter described. Fig. 6 is a detail of a modification.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of a modified formof gate-post member for supporting the gate onthe post at either the hinge or latch side.

1 2 may be generically termed the gateposts, which are specifically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings as the side members of the door-casing, but may in practice be-ordinary posts or the sides ofany other passage where it is desired to swing the gate, and 3 is the gate proper, which in this example of my invention is shown as composed of horizontal and vertical bars, preferably of metal, suitably secured together. The horizontal bars at one side of the gate are laterally extended to form hinge members, and at the other side they are similarlyextended to form latch members. The hinge-member extensions are shown at 4 5 as continuations of the upper and lower horizontal bars, respectively, and such extensions are preferably brought toward each other in order that the hinge-supports may be arranged closer together and also to improve the appearance of the gate. The extremities of these extensions 4 5 are both provided withdownwardly-ex tending hinge lugs or pivots 6 7, each of which passes through one of a series of holes 8 in one of a pair of hinge-clamps consisting of two members 9 10, constituting jaws capable of being forced toward each other'and of thereby gripping the molding or other part of the post 1 by means of athumb-screw l1,

threaded on a stem 12,'forming a part of the clamp member 9. In the form of the inven- IUU tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2 these clamps are so constructed and formed that they will project across the casing of the doorway aud engage opposite sides thereof while bringing the hinge-lugs 6 7 close to the face of the casing. The lateral extensions of the horizontal bars at the opposite side of the gate are also bent toward each other, as shown at 13 14, and the ends of both are turned downwardly to form latch lugs or members 15 16, respectively. These lugs engage in. slots 17, formed in a direction lengthwise of the gate in casingclamps comprising members 1.8 19 and thumbsorews 20, the same in construction and operation as the hinge-clamps already described.

With the construction described it will be seen that the lugs 6 7 serve as hinge-pivots for the gate to turn upon, while the lugs 15 16 constitute latch members for preventing the gate from being opened until it is lifted bodily an extent sufficient to bring the lugs 15 16 out of their respective slots in the casing-clamps. In order that the lugs 15 16 may readily find their positions in the slots 17, the clamps at the inner sides of the slots 17 are provided with strikingplates 21, against which the lugs 15 16 impinge when the gate swings to and by which said lugs are directed into their slots 17. In order, however, that the lugs 6 7 may not be accidentally lifted out of the holes 8 when the gate is being thus raised for opening it, they are made considerably longer than the lugs 15 16, and as a further safeguard one of them, preferably the lug 6, is provided with a catch 22, which will prevent it from lifting through the hole 8 in which it is seated until said catch is retracted within the lug. A similar catch 23 may be provided on one of the latch-lugs 15 16, preferably the upper one, for preventing the gate from being unlatched by a child in lifting it. These two catches 22 23 are similar in construction, and this construction is shown in detail in Fig. as comprising the catch proper (indicated at 23) in the form of an L-shaped member pivoted at 24: to the hinge or latch lug, which is indicated at 15, and which member 23 is located within a slot 25, formed in the lug. The inner end of member 23 is pivoted to a rod 26 in slot 25, which extends upwardly through an opening 27 in the upper bend or angle of the lug, where it is surrounded by a coil-spring 28, hearing under a thumb-piece or button 29 on the rod 26 and seated in a recess 30 in the lug, so that by pressing upon button 29 the catch 23 will be retracted into slot 25. The upward movement of rod 26 may be limited by a bend or shoulder 31 or any other suitable stop on the rod.

With the gate thus constructed it will be seen that its application is not restricted to any particular width of doorway or space between the posts, but may be applied to doorways of various widths by shifting the hingelugs 6 7 into that one of the series of holes 8 which will bring the latch-lugs ,15 16 into register with their slots 17.

In order that the gate may be readily assembled by inexperienced persons, the four lugs 6, 7, 15, and 16 are graduated in length. The hinge-lug 7, being the lower one is preferably the longest, so that it will enter one of the holes in clamp member 9 before either of the other lugs engages. The lug 6 is the next in length,'so that the gate will be properly hinged before either of the latch-lugs engages, and the lug 16 is preferably longer than the lug 15, so that it will engage its clamp and enter the slot therein before the lug 15 is inserted in its slot.

. If desired, the catch 22 on the hinge-lug 6 may be dispensed with and in its stead may be employed a fixed catch 22, and the holes 8 may be in the form of keyhole-slots 8, as shown in Fig. 5, the catch 22 being arranged at right angles to the catch 23 on the latchlug 15, so that when the gate is unlatched and turned at an angle to its hinge-clamps the catch 22 may be lifted through the keyhole-slot 8*, if it should be desired to remove the gate from its hinges.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7, 32 is ahorizontal bar which passes through a collar or guide 33 at one end, formed on or secured to a part of the gate proper, preferably to one of the upright bars 34, and is provided with a setscrew 35 or other suitable means whereby the bar 32 may be held against longitudinal movement. The other end of the bar 32 passes through an eye or guide 36, carried by the gate and preferably formed by a turn of three hundred and sixty degrees in a bar 37, which constitutes the end of the gate. The extremity of this rod 32 is turned downwardly to form a lug or pivot 38 and is socketed in any suitable socket 39, secured to the doorframe or gatepost 40. This lug 38 is shown as provided with one of the aforesaid catches 22 23, which is designated in this View as 23, and the lug may constitute either a latch-lug, like the lug 15, or a hinge-lug, like the log 6, as desired, it being equally applicable to both purposes. The purpose of this arrangement, it will be seen, is to permit the gate proper to be adjusted longitudinally on the post member by which it is supported, and by post member in this application is meant either the bar or red 32 or the clamps for either the hinge or the latch, with reference to which the gate is longitudinally adjustable, as before described.

The modification shown in Fig. 7 constitutes the subject-matter of the claims of my copending application, Serial No. 145,699, filed of even date herewith.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gate the combination with the posts and hinge and latch members secured thereto respectively, of the gate proper and downwardly-projecting hinge-lugs and latch-lugs carried thereon and graduated in length and engaging in and movable vertically with reference to said hinge and latch members respectively.

2. In a gate the combination with the posts and hinge and latch members secured thereto respectively,of the gate proper,a downwardlyprojectinglatch-lug engaging said latch members and movable vertically therefrom and downwardly-projecting hinge-lugs of greater length than said latch-lug, engaging said hinge members and movable vertically therefrom.

3. In a gate the combination with the posts, of hinge members secured to the posts and having a series of perforations, hinge-lugs adapted to enter said perforations and one of which is provided with a catch projecting therefrom, latch members secured to the other of said posts and having slots extending lengthwise of the gate, latch-lugs on the gate engaging in said slots and one of which latchlugs is provided with a compressible catch projecting at an angle to the said catch on the hinge lug.

4. In a gate the combination with the posts, of post members secured to one of said posts and having a longitudinal series of perforations extending lengthwise of the gate, a post member secured to the other of said posts and having a continuous slot longer than a plurality of said perforations also extending lengthwise of the gate, hinge-lugs at one side of the gate for engaging in said perforations and a latch-lug at the other side of the gate for engaging in said slot.

5. In a gate the combination with the posts and the gate proper, of post members secured to one of said posts and havinga longitudinal series of perforations extending lengthwise of the gate, hinge-lugs on said gate engaging in said perforations and one of which hinge-lugs is provided with a catch for holding it against withdrawal, post members secured to the other of said posts and having longitudinal slots extending lengthwise of the gate, and latch-lugs secured to the gate and engaging in said slots and one of which latchlugs is provided with a catch for preventing its withdrawal.

6. In a gate the combination with the posts and the gate proper, of post members secured to one of said posts and having perforations, hinge-lugs secured one to each corner of the gate and engaging in said perforations, post members secured to the other of said posts and having apertures, and latch-lugs secured to the upper and lower corners of the gate and engaging in said apertures.

7. In a device for the purpose described, the combination with a gate of a clamp comprising two relatively adjustable grippingjaws, and one of which jaws has an apertured portion elongated lengthwise of the gate, and a lugadapted to be secured to the gate and engaging in the aperture of said clamp.

8. In a device for the purpose described, the combination with a gate of a'clamp comprising an elongated apertured portion and two jaws, both of which project from the side of said elongated portion and are relatively adjustable lengthwise of said portion, a lug adapted to be carried by the gate and engaging in the aperture of said portion.

9. In a device for the purpose described, the combinationof an adjustable clamp adapted to grip one of the gate posts or supports, provided with an aperture and a vertical lug adapted to be carried by the gate engaging in said aperture.

10. In a device for the purpose described, the combination with a gate of a vertical lug on the side of the gate, and a clamp adapted to be secured to one of the gate-posts and provided with an elongated slot extending lengthwise of the gate for receiving said lug.

11. In a device for the purpose described, the combination with a gate of a vertical lug adapted to be carried on the side thereof, a socket on apertured member adapted to be secured to the gate-post for receiving said lug, an L-shaped latch member recessed in said lug and projecting outwardly into engagement with said member and a springactuated operating-rod secured to said latch member and projecting from said lug.

12. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of the post-clamp for supporting the gate having an aperture therein, the gate having a lug adapted to be received in said aperture and provided witha slot, an

L-shaped latch pivoted in said slot and protruding therefrom, a shouldered rod pivoted to said latch and projecting through the upper end of said rod, said lug having a recess in its upper end under said button,and a spring seated in said recess and bearing against said button.

13. In a device for the purpose described,

the combination with a gate having a latchlug extending downwardly on the side thereof, and a post-clamp provided with a slot for receiving said lug and a flange extending along the inner edge of said slot above the general level of said clamp for receiving the lateral impact of said lug.

14. In a device for the purpose described, the combination with a gate having a downwardly-extending lug on the side thereof and a reversible and invertible post-clamp provided with an aperture for receiving said lug when the clamp is turned either side up or either end to.

WALTER T. CURTIS.

Witnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, M, B. ALLSTADT. 

